Swindon

Swindon's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Swindon increased by 16%, from just over 180,000 to 209,000.

The addition of about 29,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the South West and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swindon was home to, on average, 6.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Swindon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Swindon increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than the South West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 8,100 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 80.

About 16% of people in Swindon are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Swindon

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Swindon, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Swindon, the proportion of single people increased from 29% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Swindon fell from 53% to 49%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Swindon residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (61%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. The improvement brought health in Swindon close to the national average 4.4% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of unemployment in Swindon increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Swindon, the South West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Swindon with children remained close to 31% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 61%, while the percentage of households in Swindon with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.6% to 8.5%.

The proportion of households with children increased faster here than anywhere else in the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s third highest proportion of households with children.

Gloucester had the South West's highest proportion of households with children (31%), while South Gloucestershire had the region's second highest proportion (31%).

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Swindon saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just under one in six (16%) households in Swindon rented privately, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 17% to 16%.

Across the region, only Bristol (from 13% to 24%) and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (from 13% to 22%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Swindon went from having the 27th-highest to the 14th-highest percentage of private renting out of 309 English local authority areas.

Private renting in Swindon increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swindon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Swindon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11% to 8.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, about 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Swindon decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swindon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Swindon residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Swindon remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Swindon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 33% said they had no religion. An increase from 21% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Swindon.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Swindon that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 130,000 in 2001 to just over 120,000 in 2011 (from 70% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 14,000 (6.8%)

Just over 3,500 people (1.0%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 1,900 in 2001 (1.7%).

The population without a religion in Swindon increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Swindon

The percentage of Swindon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.1% to 5.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.7%, while the percentage of Swindon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Swindon

In 2011, 90% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 95% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Swindon.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Swindon from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 4,600 in 2001 to just over 13,000 in 2011 (from 2.6% to 6.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 2,000 to just over 4,200 (from 1.1% to 2.0%).

Just under 2,900 people (0.7%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 1,300 in 2001 (1.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Swindon decreased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Swindon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Swindon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.7% to 4.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Swindon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Swindon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swindon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Swindon, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.4% to 9.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (35%) households had a married couple, compared with 39% in 2001. The percentage of households in Swindon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.9% to 12%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links